People scarred as kidnapping cases increase in Haiti

Staff at many Haitian healthcare buildings went on strike Monday to protest the capture of an intern, part of general public outrage at a recent increase in abductions on the island.

Hans David Telemaque was captured early Saturday from a street near the State University of Haiti Hospital (HUEH), in Port-au-Prince. He was released Sunday night following payment of an untold amount.

"When you leave your house, you have reservations about whether you're going to pay. Mothers, fathers, spouses, parents... We all are in daily and constant care," said Bead Charlemagne Charlorin, a HUEH intern who joined the protests Monday in the ways of Port-au-Prince.

In solidarity with the protests by interns at the island nation's main hospital, multiple healthcare facilities checked all non-urgent care activities Monday.

"Every day, at least four cases of crime followed by calls for ransom are recorded. Some parents, they're very rare, talk about it. The majority are content to pay the price for their child, for their family, to get them back," said Marie Rosy August Ducena, of the National Human Rights Network.

Furthermore, residents of the Haitian capital piece an atmosphere of panic as members of the police power have been accused of being involved in acts of crime.

"Several victims have actually said they were accosted by police officers, abducted in Haitian national police vehicles," Ducena said.

"We believe it is up to the auditor general of the national police to intervene, investigate and punish all police officers who are required at one level or another in the perpetration of these acts," she said.